Clutching mechanism for wiredrawing blocks



June 3 1924.

E. H. CARROLL CLUTCHING MECHANISM FOR WIREDRAWING BLOCKS Filed sept. 1s. 1919 HL a 75 @mn/ln Patented .lune 3, 1924i..

ELBERT H. CARROLL, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MORGAN CON- STRUCTION COMPANY, OF WORCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CLUTCHING MECANISM FOR YIREDRAVVING BLOCKS.

Application led September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,485.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ennn'r H. CARRoLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a 'Clutohing Mechanism for TWiredrawing Blocks, of which the following, together with the accompanying' drawing, is a specification.

The present invention relates to wire drawing blocks of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 277,919, filed February 19, 1919, which is characterized by the provision of an expansible friction coil adapted to establish, when desired, an operative connection between the block, or other driven member and its driving shaft. The present invention involves certain improvements over the construction and operation of the mechanism disclosed in said copending application, all as pointed out in detail hereinafter, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which the single ligure is a central vertical sectional view of V a wire drawing block embodying said improvements.

Referringr to the accompanying drawing, 1 denotes a flanged drum mounted upon the upper end of a rotating shaft2. rIhe wire drawing drum 1 is of the usual construction and the shaft 2 is connected in the usual manner with a power imparting mechanism, not shown. Attached to the shaft 2 by means of a pin 3 is a cylindrical block 4 provided upon one side with a groove 5 in which a projection 6 enters, formed on the upper end of an expansible spiral coil 7 made of material which is preferably rectangular in cross section. Surrounding the vshaft 2 is a sleeve 8, having a clutch connection with the block 1, as indicated by the broken lines 8a, and capable of turning on the sleeve 8 is a second sleeve 9 providedon one side with a groove 9a in which a projection 10 enters, formed on the lower end or the coil 7. The sleeve 9 is provided withan outer bevelled surface 11, and surrounding the sleeves 8 and 9 is a collar 12 having an internal bevelled surface 18 overlapping the bevelled surface 11 on the sleeve9. The collar 12 is connected with the wire drawing drum l by a pin 14,'and between the wire-drawing block and the collar 12 spiral springs 15 are inserted rest-ing in recesses 16 1n thecollar 12, to aid gravity in ensuring an effective contact of the bevelled surfaces 11 and 13. A flange 17 on the collar 12 extends over rolls 18, 18, which are carried in arms 19 attached to a pivoted yolie 20, capable of being rocked at will by a treadle, not shown, as it is in common use in connection with wire drawing blocks of this class, for the purpose of raising or lowering the rolls 18 in order to connect or disconnect the wire drawing block and its driving mechanism; the construction and operation of a treadle for this purpose is clearly understood by those conversant with wire drawing blocks of this class.

In the accompanying drawing the rolls 18, 18, are represented in their lowest position, allowing the bevelled surface 13 of the collar 12 to rest upon the bevelled surface 11 of the sleeve 9, thereby creating an initial frictional resistance between the ianged collar 12 and the sleeve 9. l/Vhen these conditions are established, in the act l 2 in the proper direction, under these conditions, will impart a torsional strain to the spiral coil 7, tending to unwind it and causing it to expand against the inner surface 21 of the wire drawing block, until the frictional resistance between the spring 7 and the surface 21 is sufficient to cause the block and all its connected parts to rotate with the shaft 2.

In order to disconnect the wire drawing block from the driving power the yoke 2O is rocked to raise the rolls 18, 18, against the flange 17, therebyV raising the collar 12 against the tension of the springs 15 suiciently to separate the bevelled surfaces 11 and 13 when the wire drawing block and its connected members will come to a state of rest.

My present improvement introduces into this class of wire block driving mechanism two additional members, both of which are broadly new, so far as I am aware. These members are the collar 12 and the sleeve 9, between the bevelled surfaces of Awhich the initial friction'is secured to impart a torsional strain to the coiled spring 7, thereby obviating `the necessity of raising the entire wire drawing block with its load of coiled wire in order to disconnect the block from the driving power. When the collar 12 has been raised to disconnect the bevelled surfaces 11 and 13, the only torsional strain then imparted to the coiled spring 7 will be that required to rotate` the comparatively light sleeve 9, allowing the spring 7 to immediately contract and release the wire drawing block.

In the operation of the mechanism when the parts are in the positions represented in the drawing, the block 4 attached to the shaft 2 constitutes the driving member, and the drum 1 is the driven member, connected with the drivingmember by the friction of the coiled spring 7 against the surface 21. Intermediate the driving and driven members are the sleeves 8 and 9 and the flanged collar 12 having a bevelled surface 13 frictionally cooperating with bevelled surface 11 to impart a torsional strain to the spring 7.

I claim,

1. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing block or drum provided with an interior friction surface, a driving spindle concentric with said drum, a coiled spring adapted to engage the interior friction surface of the drum and having one of its ends connected with said driving spindle, an independently rotatable sleeve concentric with the driving spindle and connected with the opposite end of said coiled spring, a collar overlapping said rotatable sleeve, and means for bringing said collar and said rotatable sleeve into frictional contact to impart an initial torsional strain to said coiled spring.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing drum having an interior frictional surface, a rotating spindle, a cylindrical driving block attached to said spindle, provided with a longitudinal groove in its periphery, a sleeve concentric with said spindle provided with a longitudinal groove in its periphery, a spirally coiled spring adapted to frictionally engage the interior surface of said drum and having its opposite ends engaging the grooved driving block and the grooved sleeve respectively, and means for imparting an initial frictional resistance to said grooved sleeve.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a drum and a driving spindle therefor, of a clutching means interposed between said parts and comprising a coil rotating with said spindleand adapted to be expanded into frictional engagement with the inner periphery of said drum, al member adapted when held against rotation to procure the expansion of said coil, and means movable axially relative to said drum for imposing the drag of said drum on said member.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing drum, a driving spindle concentric therewith, a spiral band expansible into contact with the inner periphery of said drum for connecting said drum with the driving spindle operative by the application thereto of an initial torsional strain, and means for applying said initial torsional strain independently of the position of said drum, comprising an externally bevelled sleeve, and an internally bevelled collar for applying a frictional resistance to the rotation of said sleeve.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing drum, a driving spindle forl said drum, a spiral band eXpansible into contact with the inner periphery of said drum for connecting said drum and its driving spindle operative by the application thereto of an initial torsional strain, and means for applying said torsional strain independently of the position of the drum, comprising a sleeve rotatable independently of said driving spindle and provided with an exterior bevelled surface, a collar provided with an interior bevelled surface overlapping the bevelled surface of said sleeve, and means for moving said collar at will into frictional engagement with said sleeve.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing drum, a driving spindle forl said drum concentric therewith, a clutching mechanism between said drinn and said spindle for connecting the latter frictionally with the inner periphery of said drum, and operative by the applica-tion thereto of an initial torsional strain, and means for applying said initial strain, comprising a sleeve concentric with said spindle and rotatable independently of the spindle, and means for imparting a frictional resistance toi the rotation of said sleeve, comprising a collar rotatively connected with said drum, but capable of aXia-l movement independently of said drum.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing drinn, a driving spindle for the drum, a clutching mechanism for connecting the inner periphery of said drum with its driving spindle opera-tive by the application thereto of an initial torsional strain, and means for applying said torsional strain, comprising an eXteriorly bevelled sleeve concentric with said drum, but independently rotatable, an interiorly bevelled collar overlapping said sleeve, and means for bringing the bevelled surfaces of the sleeve and collar into frictional contact.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing drum, a, driving spindle for the drum, a clutching mechanism for connecting said drum with its driving spindle operative by the application thereto of an initial torsional strain, means for applying y said torsional strain, comprising a sleeve indrum and provided With an interior bevelled Witnesses:

closing said spindle and rotatable therewith, said collar to bring said bevelled surfaces a seco-nd sleeve journalled on said rotatable into and out of frctional Contact.

sleeve and provided With an exterior bev- Dated this third day of September, 1919. elled surface, a. collar rotatable with said ELBERT H. CARROLL.

surface overlapping the bevelled surface of PENELOPE COMBERBACH, said second sleeve, and means for movmg NELLIE WHALEN. 

